tapetum lucidum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A layer of tissue in the eye of many vertebrate animals, immediately behind or sometimes within the retina, that reflects visible light so as to increase the light available to the photoreceptors.

Word forms

tapetum lucidum tapeta lucida

Etymology

From Latin tapētum (“tapestry”) and lūcidum (“bright, shining, clear”), the neuter of lūcidus, literally "bright tapestry".

Related words

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